Soft Tacos & Cupcakes: Menu for a Big Office Potluck Lunch

The key to a really fantastic office potluck — one that you and your coworkers actually look forward to — is variety. And cupcakes. Get everyone to sign up for a dish they are truly excited to make and bring, and I guarantee you'll end up with an office table that groans under the weight of the bounty you are about to inhale.

The Scene

The office. Ravenous co-workers. A few crock-pots sending tantalizing aromas over cubicle walls. The long table in the meeting room arrayed with mega-sized bowls of salad and platters of tasty bite-sized treats. Everyone breaks a little early and stays a little longer than their official lunch hour, lingering over the leftovers.

Make It Happen

Besides variety and cupcakes, an office potluck also requires some coordination. It's good to designate some people for salads and sides, some for main dishes, and some for desserts — and don't forget to nominate someone (or two) to bring drinks. Clear out some fridge space the day before so that people have somewhere to stash their dishes until lunchtime.

The dishes listed in the "Menu" above are truly just suggestions. Most of them are things that feed a crowd, don't need to be reheated, and don't require more than a plate and a fork for eating. It's nice to break out of the basic "lettuce + cherry tomato" salad scene and bring in a few grain salads and lighter pasta salads. The pork tacos are best if you can finagle a crock-pot to warm it up before lunch.

The desserts speak for themselves! Cookies, bars, and cupcakes are the mainstay of an office (or any!) potluck — things that people can nibble now or take back to their desks if they want.